@phdthesis{Hartmannsberger2021,
  author    = {Hartmannsberger, Beate},
  title     = {The pathogenicity and origin of auto-antibodies in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy and the identification of cutaneous biomarkers in Charcot-Marie-Tooth 1A patients},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-21145},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-211451},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {Peripheral neuropathies can severely affect patients. Causes for the disease are diverse but can be classified into two main groups, acquired and hereditary. Examples for these two types are chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A (CMT1A). CIDP has an estimated prevalence of about 1-9:100 000. In this pathogenetically hetereo- geneous patient group about 5-10\% show auto-antibodies against the node of Ranvier and present with distinct symptoms. Treatment with rituximab - a monoclonal antibody that deletes CD20 + B cells - has been shown to be effective in a majority of auto-antibody as- sociated CIDP cases. This suggests that B cells and the produced auto-antibodies might be pathogenic. Previous studies delivered evidence that auto-antibodies alone can induce nerve damage. In this study, the aim was to investigate the pathomechanism of auto-antibodies in vivo and their exact origin: For the analysis of the pathogenicity of auto-antibodies, passive transfer experiments on Lewis rats were performed with whole IgG from a patient with anti-contactin-1 (CNTN1) IgG4 auto-antibodies. IgG was infused through an intrathe- cal catheter targeting the thoracic/lumbar region of the spine over a long-term, 3-week period. In a previous study of our group, the IgG from the same patient has been re- ported to have mild pathogenic effects when applied intraneurally into the sciatic nerve of Lewis rats. In this study however, binding of auto-antibodies to nerve roots could not be detected. Neither evaluation of electrophysiological properties after the injection period nor motor and sensory skills tested throughout the injection period showed differences when compared to animals infused with control IgG. This suggests that in the chronic intrathecal protocol anti-CNTN1 auto-antibodies did not have a pathogenic effect. In peripheral blood, four B cell subsets capable to produce antibodies were previously described: memory B cells, plasmablasts (PBs), B1 cells and CD20 + CD38 hi cells. For the identification of the B cell subsets that produce auto-antibodies, purification and sort protocols as well as an enzyme-linked immuno spot (ELISpot) assay for IgG and IgM were established successfully. Since unstimulated B cell subsets produced very small amounts of IgG and IgM, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were stimulated with IL-2 and R848 for 72 h prior to sorting. While the memory B cell frequency decreased after stimulation, the frequency of CD20 + CD38 hi cells increased and the overall number of antibody-secreting cells was increased. When stimulating patient PBMCs for 10 days though, detection of anti-neurofascin-155 (NF155) auto-antibodies in supernatants by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was possible in two out of three patient samples. Even though cell sorting was feasible after 10 days of stimulation, detection of auto-antibodies could not be accomplished using antigen-specific ELISpot. Although the implementation of the cell sorting and purification protocol was successful, further adjustments of the antigen-specific ELISpot need to be performed. However, we could show that after 10 days of stimulation auto-antibody detection is possible by ELISA which helps to pre-screen if patient PBMC contain auto-reactive B cells. CMT1A has an estimated prevalence of 1:5000 and is caused by a duplication of the peripheral myelin protein 22 kDa (PMP22) gene. Patients suffer from distal weakness and muscle wasting leading even to wheelchair-dependency in some cases. Although different treatment options for CMT1A have been tested in previous clinical trials, none of them have been successful. In this study, the aim was to identify objective and reproducible outcome measures that assess the actual nerve damage in a large cohort of CMT1A patients by analyzing a series of parameters. Glabrous skin samples were collected from 48 CMT1A, 7 CIDP and 16 small fiber neuropathy patients and 45 healthy controls. 40-µm cryosections from the lateral part of the index finger were double-labeled using immunoflu- orescence to investigate cutaneous innervation. The disease severity which was assessed using the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Neuropathy Score version 2 (CMTNSv2) and ranged between mild to severe (3-27) correlated with age in CMT1A patients. Furthermore, the intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD) was reduced in CMT1A patients in comparison to controls and correlated negatively with the disease severity. In controls however, the IENFD correlated inversely with age. Meissner corpuscle density tended to be reduced and correlated inversely with age in CMT1A patients. This was not observed in healthy controls though. Compared to controls, Merkel cell density was also reduced in CMT1A, while the fraction of denervated Merkel cell was increased and correlated with age. Further differences were revealed concerning the node of Ranvier. Paranodes were shortened and the fraction of long nodes was decreased in CMT1A patients compared to controls. These data suggest that the IENFD, the Meissner corpuscle and Merkel cell densities are possible candidates for outcome measures as they are associated with disease severity or age of patients. However, a reliable statement about the suitability as a marker for disease progression can not be made in this study since only six CMT1A patients agreed to give a follow-up biopsy two years later.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{KneitzRoseGlutschetal.2022,
  author    = {Kneitz, Hermann and Rose, Christian and Glutsch, Valerie and Goebeler, Matthias},
  title     = {Recurrence of a cellular blue nevus with satellitosis — a diagnostic pitfall with clinical consequences},
  series = {Dermatopathology},
  volume    = {9},
  journal   = {Dermatopathology},
  number    = {4},
  issn      = {2296-3529},
  doi       = {10.3390/dermatopathology9040042},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-297436},
  pages     = {361 -- 367},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {Blue nevus is a benign melanocytic lesion, typically asymptomatic and of unknown etiology. Several histologic and clinical variants have been distinguished, the most frequent being common blue nevus, cellular blue nevus, and combined blue nevus. Although melanocytic nevi with a satellite lesion are usually suggestive of locally advanced malignant melanoma, very few cases of blue nevi with satellite lesions have been reported. The diagnosis of common or cellular blue nevi is generally straightforward; however, the presence of structures such as irregular edges or satellitosis are highly suggestive for malignancy, and differential diagnoses such as locally advanced malignant melanoma and malignant blue nevus should be considered. Recurrent blue nevi can display atypical features not seen in the primary lesion, such as pleomorphism and mitotic activity. They usually tend to follow a benign course; however, in some cases, recurrence may indicate malignant transformation. We here report the unique case of a 64-year-old woman with a recurrent cellular blue nevus accompanied by satellite lesions. Such a biological behavior resulting in a clinical presentation as a melanoma-like lesion is a rarity in blue nevus and has not been described before.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{LeikamHufnagelOttoetal.2015,
  author    = {Leikam, C and Hufnagel, AL and Otto, C and Murphy, DJ and M{\"u}hling, B and Kneitz, S and Nanda, I and Schmid, M and Wagner, TU and Haferkamp, S and Br{\"o}cker, E-B and Schartl, M and Meierjohann, S},
  title     = {In vitro evidence for senescent multinucleated melanocytes as a source for tumor-initiating cells},
  series = {Cell Death and Disease},
  volume    = {6},
  journal   = {Cell Death and Disease},
  number    = {e1711},
  doi       = {10.1038/cddis.2015.71},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-148718},
  year      = {2015},
  abstract  = {Oncogenic signaling in melanocytes results in oncogene-induced senescence (OIS), a stable cell-cycle arrest frequently characterized by a bi-or multinuclear phenotype that is considered as a barrier to cancer progression. However, the long-sustained conviction that senescence is a truly irreversible process has recently been challenged. Still, it is not known whether cells driven into OIS can progress to cancer and thereby pose a potential threat. Here, we show that prolonged expression of the melanoma oncogene N-RAS\(^{61K}\) in pigment cells overcomes OIS by triggering the emergence of tumor-initiating mononucleated stem-like cells from senescent cells. This progeny is dedifferentiated, highly proliferative, anoikis-resistant and induces fast growing, metastatic tumors. Our data describe that differentiated cells, which are driven into senescence by an oncogene, use this senescence state as trigger for tumor transformation, giving rise to highly aggressive tumor-initiating cells. These observations provide the first experimental in vitro evidence for the evasion of OIS on the cellular level and ensuing transformation.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Groeber2014,
  author    = {Groeber, Florian},
  title     = {Etablierung eines vaskularisierten Haut{\"a}quivalentes},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-107453},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {Durch Methoden des Tissue Engineerings hergestellte dreidimensionale Haut{\"a}quivalente bilden die native humane Haut hinsichtlich ihrer histologischen Architektur, zellul{\"a}ren Zusammensetzung und metabolischen Aktivit{\"a}t ab. Diese Gewebe eignen sich daher als zellbasierte Wundauflagen f{\"u}r großfl{\"a}chige Hautdefekte oder als In-vitro-Testsysteme f{\"u}r den Ersatz von Tierversuchen. Bei bisherigen Haut{\"a}quivalenten fehlt jedoch ein funktionelles Blutgef{\"a}ßsystem. Wird solch ein Gewebe als Implantat eingesetzt, f{\"u}hrt das Fehlen von Blutgef{\"a}ßen zu einer unzureichenden Versorgung mit N{\"a}hrstoffen und zur Nekrose. Neben dieser klinischen Limitation ist auch das Anwendungsspektrum als In-vitro-Testsystem begrenzt. Bei nicht vaskularisierten Hautmodellen kann eine transdermale Penetration von Substanzen nicht akkurat abgesch{\"a}tzt werden, da die zus{\"a}tzliche Barriere, welche die gef{\"a}ßauskleidenden Endothelzellen bilden, nicht enthalten ist. In Studien zur Integration eines Gef{\"a}ßsystems in Haut{\"a}quivalente konnte bislang lediglich gezeigt werden, dass sich Endothelzellen zu gef{\"a}ßartigen Strukturen zusammenlagern. Die Bildung von funktionellen perfundierbaren Gef{\"a}ßen in einem in vitro generierten Haut{\"a}quivalent ist bisher jedoch noch nicht belegt. Entsprechend ist eine direkte Anastomose mit dem Blutkreislauf eines Patienten bei einem klinischen Einsatz als Hautimplantat nicht m{\"o}glich. Bei einer Anwendung in In-vitro-Studien ist zudem das Gef{\"a}ßsystem experimentell nicht zug{\"a}nglich. In der vorliegenden Arbeit kann durch die Kombination einer biologischen, vaskularisierten Tr{\"a}gerstruktur (BioVaSc) mit einem neu entwickelten Bioreaktorsystems, ein Haut{\"a}quivalent mit einem perfundierbaren Gef{\"a}ßsystem hergestellt werden. Die Generierung dieser sogenannten SkinVaSc erfolgt {\"u}ber die Besiedlung der BioVaSc mit humanen Keratinozyten (hEK) und Fibroblasten. Parallel dazu werden die eingebetteten Gef{\"a}ßstrukturen der BioVaSc mit humanen mikrovaskul{\"a}ren Endothelzellen (hDMEC) rebesiedelt. Durch eine Anastomose zwischen den Gef{\"a}ßen der BioVaSc und dem Bioreaktorsystem ist eine Perfusion mit physiologisch, gepulsten Dr{\"u}cken zwischen 80 und 120 mmHG m{\"o}glich. Optimale Kulturbedingungen f{\"u}r die Haut- zellen k{\"o}nnen ferner durch zwei Kulturmodi generiert werden. Zur optimalen Versorgung der hEK innerhalb einer Proliferationsphase, die sich an die Zellaussaat anschließt, erfolgt eine kontinuierliche Versorgung der Oberfl{\"a}che der SkinVaSc mit Medium. Der zweite Modus stimuliert die Differenzierung der hEK durch eine Kultivierung des Modells an der Grenzfl{\"a}che zwischen Luft und Medium. Nach einer vierzehnt{\"a}gigen Kultivierung der SkinVaSc an der Luft Medium Grenzfl{\"a}che l{\"a}sst sich die Bildung einer hautspezifischen histologischen Architektur durch H{\"a}malaun/Eosin und immunhistologische F{\"a}rbungen belegen. Eine nat{\"u}rlich differenzierte Epidermis wird durch eine Basalmembran, die Kollagen Typ IV und Laminin 5 enth{\"a}lt von einen dermalen Teil getrennt. Die Dermale-Epidermale-Verbindung erscheint durch die Mikrostrukturierung der BioVaSc wellenf{\"o}rmig. Damit bildet die SkinVaSc die papillare Struktur der nativen humanen Haut ab. Innerhalb des dermalen Anteils k{\"o}nnen zudem Gef{\"a}ßstrukturen ausgemacht werden. Die Innenseite der Gef{\"a}ße sind durch eine Schicht aus hDMEC ausgekleidet, die endothelzellspe- zifische Oberfl{\"a}chenmarker wie "platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1" und "von Willebrand Faktor" aufweisen. Eine zerst{\"o}rungsfreie {\"U}berwachung der SkinVaSc hinsichtlich der epidermalen Differenzierung ist durch eine integrierte Sensortechnologie auf Basis der Impedanz-spektroskopie m{\"o}glich. Dabei erlaubt ein entwickeltes mathematisches Modell die Extraktion von biologisch relevanten Informationen aus Impedanzspektren in einem Frequenzbereich zwischen 1 Hz und 100 kHz. Innerhalb dieser Studien ließ sich zeigen, dass die epidermale Differenzierung zu einer signifikanten Steigerung des ohmschen Widerstandes von 245,3 Ohm*cm2 zu 1108,1 Ohm*cm2 f{\"u}hrt. Gleichzeitig sinkt die zellul{\"a}re Kapazit{\"a}t von 131,5µF/cm2 auf 5,4µF/cm2 ab. Durch diese Parameter ist es m{\"o}glich die epidermale Barriere zerst{\"o}rungsfrei {\"u}ber die Kultivierungszeit zu {\"u}berwachen. Das Gef{\"a}ßsystem der SkinVaSc erm{\"o}glicht es mehr dermatologische Fragestellungen in vitro zu untersuchen und damit Tierversuche zu ersetzen. Zudem kann auf Basis der SkinVaSc ein vaskularisiertes Hautimplantat entwickelt werden, das es erm{\"o}glicht tiefe Hautverletzungen zu behandeln.},
  subject      = {Tisuue Engineering},
  language  = {de}
}
@article{StolpmannBrinkmannSalzmannetal.2012,
  author    = {Stolpmann, K. and Brinkmann, J. and Salzmann, S. and Genkinger, D. and Fritsche, E. and Hutzler, C. and Wajant, H. and Luch, A. and Henkler, F.},
  title     = {Activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor sensitises human keratinocytes for CD95L-and TRAIL-induced apoptosis},
  series = {Cell Death \& Disease},
  volume    = {3},
  journal   = {Cell Death \& Disease},
  number    = {e388},
  doi       = {10.1038/cddis.2012.127},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-133501},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {In this study, we have analysed the apoptotic effects of the ubiquitous environmental toxin benzo[ a] pyrene (BP) in HaCaT cells and human keratinocytes. Although prolonged exposure to BP was not cytotoxic on its own, a strong enhancement of CD95 (Fas)-mediated apoptosis was observed with BP at concentrations activating the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). Importantly, the ultimately mutagenic BP-metabolite, that is, (+)-anti-BP-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide (BPDE), failed to enhance CD95-mediated cell death, suggesting that the observed pro-apoptotic effect of BP is neither associated with DNA adducts nor DNA-damage related signalling. CD95-induced apoptosis was also enhanced by beta-naphtoflavone, a well-known agonist of the AhR that does not induce DNA damage, thus suggesting a crucial role for AhR activation. Consistently, BP failed to sensitise for CD95L-induced apoptosis in AhR knockdown HaCaT cells. Furthermore, inhibition of CYP1A1 and/or 1B1 expression did not affect the pro-apoptotic crosstalk. Exposure to BP did not increase expression of CD95, but led to augmented activation of caspase-8. Enhancement of apoptosis was also observed with the TRAIL death receptors that activate caspase-8 and apoptosis by similar mechanisms as CD95. Together, these observations indicate an interference of AhR signalling with the activity of receptor-associated signalling intermediates that are shared by CD95 and TRAIL receptors. Our data thus suggest that AhR agonists can enhance cytokine-mediated adversity upon dermal exposure.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{SchattonYangKleffeletal.2015,
  author    = {Schatton, Tobias and Yang, Jun and Kleffel, Sonja and Uehara, Mayuko and Barthel, Steven R. and Schlapbach, Christoph and Zhan, Qian and Dudeney, Stephen and Mueller, Hansgeorg and Lee, Nayoung and de Vries, Juliane C. and Meier, Barbara and Beken, Seppe Vander and Kluth, Mark A. and Ganss, Christoph and Sharpe, Arlene H. and Waaga-Gasser, Ana Maria and Sayegh, Mohamed H. and Abdi, Reza and Scharffetter-Kochanek, Karin and Murphy, George F. and Kupper, Thomas S. and Frank, Natasha Y. and Frank, Markus H.},
  title     = {ABCB5 Identifies Immunoregulatory Dermal Cells},
  series = {Cell Reports},
  volume    = {12},
  journal   = {Cell Reports},
  doi       = {10.1016/j.celrep.2015.08.010},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-149989},
  pages     = {1564 -- 1574},
  year      = {2015},
  abstract  = {Cell-based strategies represent a new frontier in the treatment of immune-mediated disorders. However, the paucity of markers for isolation of molecularly defined immunomodulatory cell populations poses a barrier to this field. Here, we show that ATP-binding cassette member B5 (ABCB5) identifies dermal immunoregulatory cells (DIRCs) capable of exerting therapeutic immunoregulatory functions through engagement of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1). Purified Abcb5\(^+\) DIRCs suppressed T cell proliferation, evaded immune rejection, homed to recipient immune tissues, and induced Tregs in vivo. In fully major-histocompatibility-complex-mismatched cardiac allotransplantation models, allogeneic DIRCs significantly prolonged allograft survival. Blockade of DIRC-expressed PD-1 reversed the inhibitory effects of DIRCs on T cell activation, inhibited DIRC-dependent Treg induction, and attenuated DIRC-induced prolongation of cardiac allograft survival, indicating that DIRC immunoregulatory function is mediated, at least in part, through PD-1. Our results identify ABCB5\(^+\) DIRCs as a distinct immunoregulatory cell population and suggest promising roles of this expandable cell subset in cellular immunotherapy.},
  language  = {en}
}